Grex Aaypsi Conference

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Grex Aaypsi Item 27: Academic Games
Entered by rcurl on Sun Feb 6 06:52:06 UTC 1994:

Our daughter participates in the after (middle) school program called
Academic Games. We supported her doing so, but finally  went to the tail of
of a day of Academic Games held for all middle school participants at
Clague School. The kids had been at it for 9 (nine) hours, and had
an hour to go when we got there. It was astonishing. The ongoing game
was "identify this president": a coach read clues, starting with rather
arcane ones, to the better known. The kids were happily fractious, and
all those that were right, really celebrated (shouts, high fives, etc).
I didn't realize that there was this much enthusiasm for intellectual
matters among so many kids. Then I realized - that there are probably
ca. 2000 middle school kids in Ann Arbor - and about 40 were there
participating. 2%? 

So, what is this Item about? To make your own observations on the
Academic Games program, or to report your own experiences with it.

5 responses total.

#1 of 5 by kami on Mon Feb 7 17:16:20 1994:

I'm glad that 2% are being so well served.  They will grow to be our leaders.
Now, what of the other 80 to 90% that are being underserved and underchallenged
and the rest who are being warehoused, carried and ignored...

#2 of 5 by rcurl on Tue Feb 8 05:04:45 1994:

Our daughter learned OnSet at AG, and tried to teach me, over the
weekend. A kid's game of mathematical set theory! She skunked me hollow.
(But she doesn't win *every* time at mancala or Set, anymore!)

#3 of 5 by hawkeye on Tue Feb 8 16:26:15 1994:

RE: #1.  Oh, please, let's not drag out that old, tired arguement. There
*should* be exceptional programs for exceptional students.

#4 of 5 by kami on Tue Feb 8 17:56:00 1994:

I don't know ANYONE who is not in some way "exceptional", much less deserving
of tailored attention.  Yes, it's labour intensive/expensive, but we start
from the ideal in order to reach the real (not the minimum).

#5 of 5 by rcurl on Tue Feb 8 20:27:42 1994:

Academic Games is a 100% voluntary, after school program, though
conducted at the school. Therefore one cannot say that it is an "exceptional
program(s) for exceptional students". I am sure that there are
unexceptional kids participating in AG, and probably many more exceptional
kids *not* participating, for very superficial reasons, among which
are momentary likes and dislikes of the kids, and parental encouragement.

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